The Maine College Republicans Prepare for Another Banner Year of Success and Accomplishment

September 4, 2007
Release No. 07-19
Contact: Ralph Kettell, (207) 660-5062

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Maine College Republicans Prepare for Another Banner Year of Success and Accomplishment

Statewide Organization Hosts Annual Leadership Training Session in Augusta

AUGUSTA - Maine College Republicans are preparing for further success following a year of unprecedented accomplishment for the statewide organization. Over 25 College Republican leaders gathered at City Hall in Augusta on Saturday for the Maine College Republicans’ annual Leadership Training Session, which was led by Maine College Republican State Chairman Nathaniel Walton (Bates ’08).

Nathaniel Walton (Bates ‘08), State Chairman of the Maine College Republicans, offered the following statement on the success of the Leadership Training Session: “I am excited by the dedication and enthusiasm of the College Republicans from all over Maine who gathered Saturday to learn the methods that will help them recruit hundreds of new College Republicans this fall. These leaders and the new College Republicans they recruit this fall will carry the banner for conservative values on Maine college campuses from Fort Kent to Wells, and while doing so, build College Republican chapters across the Pine Tree State. These efforts will be crucial towards ensuring that our members play the crucial grassroots role for Maine Republicans once again in 2008.”

The Leadership Training Session aimed to instruct chapter leaders on the most effective methods for recruiting new College Republicans on Maine’s college campuses. These student leaders also learned how to energize and excite new students about the Republican values of freedom, limited government and personal responsibility. The month of September and early October are key times for the Maine College Republicans, as many of its most dedicated and energetic members as well as future leaders are recruited during this time.

The Maine College Republicans also heard from a special guest during the Leadership Training Session. First Congressional District Candidate Dean Scontras joined the students in attendance to discuss his experiences on the campaign trail thus far, and emphasized the importance of engaging young people in Republican politics.

Leadership Training Session participants included students from 10 Maine college/universities and high schools. Students from Bates College, Bowdoin College, Colby College, Kennebec Valley Community College, Thomas College, Unity College, University of Maine, University of Maine-Farmington, and Lewiston High School attended the event.

In recent years, the achievements of Maine College Republicans have been repeatedly recognized by state and national Republican leaders, and the statewide organization has become widely regarded as the national standard for state College Republican federations. In July, the College Republican National Committee (CRNC) recognized the Maine College Republicans as the "Best State Federation in America" for the second time in three years. Major accomplishments in recent years include delivering the grassroots margin of victory for numerous Maine House and Senate candidates in 2006, ensuring the Republican Second Congressional District candidate a spot on the 2006 ballot, and delivering the Maine youth demographic for President George W. Bush in 2004. Over 5,000 students on 24 of Maine’s college campuses claim membership to the Maine College Republicans.

Chairman Walton is available for interviews/further comments about the success of the Maine College Republicans’ annual Leadership Training Session. Chairman Walton can be reached by telephone at (207) 240-4549 or by e-mail at chairman@mainecr.org.

For more information about the Maine College Republicans, please visit the statewide organization’s website at http://www.mainecr.org.